Gift Mix Recipes Needed!

[jkath]

What gift mixes do you like to make?

Coffee, muffin, cake, cookie, soup, chili............?
Recipes please!

Also, what's your favorite way to present them?

I made tons of coffee & cocoa mixes one year at our holiday boutique. I put each in a ziplock, and then into a pouch I'd sewn from gingham fabric. I tied each with raffia and attached a tag with the instructions on it.

I'll post some soon.

[marmalady]

I don't do much with mixes, although the idea has always appealed to me - mostly I do cookies for gifts.

But - just wanted to mention to keep your eyes open at the checkout counters - I just saw one of those little books (Pillsbury, Better Homes & Gardens, Land o Lakes - whatever!) - that was entirely devoted to gift mixes and packaging - some cute ideas for the packaging!

[merstarr]

Check out this great site with lots of cookie recipes for Christmas, along with ratings and reviews. Here's a direct link to their gift mixes:
http://www.christmas-cookies.com/rec...y.php?catid=28

[Yakuta]

Hi jkath your cocoa and coffee mixes sound really good.

Would you be so kind to share how you make them. I am always strapped for ideas for my co-workers and a lot of folks like hot chocolate (especially in the cold midwest). Last year I purchased some gourmet ones for about 8 dollars a small can but I love the idea of homemade stuff.

[jkath]

Yakuta -
I'll look for those recipes - will probaby write them out in the morning (it's almost midnight right now). It is a huge money saver! I sold each bag for $5 and made a large profit.

Merstarr - thanks for the site - I can always count on you!

[PA Baker]

I just got a Current catalog yesterday and they had two books devoted to recipies for jar mixes. I found links to their on line catalog for you.

Muffins in a jar:
http://currentcatalog.com/productDet...r%99%3C%2Fi%3E

Cookies in a jar:
http://currentcatalog.com/productDet...Fi%3E+Cookbook

[crewsk]

In A Cup Recipe

Honeybun Coffee Cake Mix in a Cup

1/3C yellow or spice cake mix

Topping mix
2tsp. brown sugar
1tsp. finely chopped pecans
1/4tsp. cinnamon

1. Place cake mix in a zip lock bag
2. Place topping mix in another bag & lable "Topping Mix"
3. Staple bags together
4. Attach instructions as follows:

Honeybun Coffe Cake In A Cup
1. Empty bag if mix into a plain coffee cup(no metallic decorations). Use a standard ceranic/pottery coffee cup that holds 1 1/2C. liquid.
2. Add 2tsp. oil, 1Tbsp. water, & 1 egg white. Stir very well.
3. Sprinkle topping mix over batter.
4. Miceovave 2 minutes. Let cool 1 minute in cup.
5. Remove from cup & cut in half lengthwise. Serve immedietly.
1-2 servings.

[Audeo]

Man! All of these look good!

I make a short ton of baskets out of salt dough in a variety of shapes and sizes for "gift carriers". That's something that started when the boys were in elementary school and I guess I've never grown out of. Then line them with fabric, which I have way too much of. Usually, each gift follows a theme... "breakfast basket" of pancake mix (I'll be using Goodweed's recipe from now on!) and syrups I've made, along with some good coffee beans, etc. Speaking of coffee, a "coffee basket" with mugs, coffee beans and plastic spoons that I've dipped in chocolate (some mixed with various flavorings...hazelnut, almond, etc.). A "Brit basket" with my shortbread mix, scone mix, my lemon curd and other jellies, several tins of teas with strainers and a pretty tea pot and cups I've found, etc. All the mixes come with their recipes attached. Usually, the baskets get "wrapped" in white nylon netting (I buy the stuff by the bolt) and tied with ribbons or tulle that coordinate with the fabric/theme.

Thanks to you guys who introduced me to Penzey's and got me so easily hooked, I'll be making a "cook's basket" this year for a pal that will include a set of huck towels I personalized last weekend, a variety of Penzey spices that I'm going to order, a variety of vinegars and oils and a paella pan to replace the one she dropped and broke recently.

[crewsk]

Basic instructions for cake in a coffee cup.

1 box cake mix, any flavor
1(4 serving size)instant puddin mix(NOT sugar free), any flavor

1. Read all before beginning!!
2. Place dry cake mix & dry pudding mix in a large bowl & blend well with a whisk. This will be about 4 - 4 1/2C. dry mix & will make 8 or 9 cup cake mixes.
3. Place 1/2C. dry mix into zip lock bags. Shake mix into the corner of the bag & tie there with a twist tie.
4. Continue making packets until all the dry mix is used.
5. Use "glaze" recipe following this to make appropriate flavor glaze for the flavor of cake mix you have chosen. Make 1 glaze mix for each cake mix.
6. Place glaze mix in zip lock bags & tie into the corner of the bag with a twist tie. Lable this bag "Glaze Mix". Attach it to the other bag with a twist tie or ribbon.
7. Attach instructions below.

Bake A Cake In A Coffee Cup!

1. Empty bag if mix into a plain coffee cup(no metallic decorations). Use a standard ceranic/pottery coffee cup that holds 1 1/2C. liquid.
2. Add 2tsp. oil, 1Tbsp. water, & 1 egg white. Stir very well.
3. Miceowave 2 minutes. Let cool 1 minute in cup.
4. Whila cake is in microwave, add a very few drops of water to the bag containing glaze mix. Squeeze bag to moisten glaze. Add water drops 2 at a time until it is a glaze consistency. Push all glaze into one corner of the bag. Snip off a tiny corner of bag with scissors.(Use bag to squeeze galze over cake).
5. Remove from cup & cut in half lengthwise. Serve immedietly.
1-2 servings.


Good cake mix/pudding combinations are:
Lemon cake mix + Lemon or Pistachio pudding
Yellow cake mix + Banana Cream or Chocolate pudding
Orange cake mix + Lemon pudding
Strawberry cake mix + Chocolate, Vanilla, Pistachio, or Lemon pudding
Red Velvet cake mix + Cheesecake or Vanilla pudding
Spice cake mix + Butterscotch or Lemon pudding
Pineapple cake mix + Banana Cream pudding
Any chocolate cake mix + Chocolate pudding
Experiment with other combos!

Glaze Mix Recipe
Mix 1 glaze mix for each cake mix.
Use this glaze mix with the above cake mix recipe.

1/4C. powdered sugar
1Tbsp. dry flavoring*
Dry flavoring*:
Powdered Lemonade mix
Powdered Orange breakfast drink(like Tang)
Unsweetened Cocoa powder

Select the flavoring appropriate to the cake you are making. Lemon or Orange Glaze for Lemon or Orange cake. Cocoa glaze for cakes made with chocolate cake mix or pudding. For vanilla glaze, add 1Tbsp. dry vanilla powder(sold with the coffee flavorings)or just use the powdered sugar plain.

[jkath]

Here are some of my boutique recipes:

directions:
use 1-2 spoonfuls to one mug of hot water (or to desired taste)


TOFFEE COFFEE:
1 c. instant coffee
1 c. non dairy creamer
1-1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 scoop vanilla powder
mix in food processor or blender, till you have a fine powder.

ORANGE CAPPUCINO
1 c. instant coffee
2 c. nonfat dry milk
1-1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp dry orange peel
mix in food processor or blender, till you have a fine powder.


SWISS MOCHA
1 c. instant coffee
1 c. sugar
2 c. nonfat dry milk
4 tsp cocoa powder
mix in food processor or blender, till you have a fine powder.

VIENNESE COFFEE
1 c. instant coffee
1-1/3 c. sugar
1-1/3 c. nonfat dry mik
1-2 tsp cinnamon
mix in food processor or blender, till you have a fine powder.

GINGERBREAD COFFEE
1 c. instant coffee
1 c. dry creamer
1 c. nonfat dry milk
1 Tbsp cinnamon
12 shakes ginger
6 shakes nutmeg
(sorry about the shakes - that's how I think)
mix in food processor or blender, till you have a fine powder.

BUTTERUM CAFE AU LAIT
1 c dry creamer
1 c werthers candies (butterum hard candies), crushed
1/2 c powdered sugar
4 c non fat dry milk
1-1/3 c instant coffee

HOT CHOCOLATE
2 c. nonfat dry milk
2 c. dry creamer
2 c. sugar
1 c. unsweetened cocoa
mix in food processor or blender, till you have a fine powder.

BLACK FOREST COCOA
add cherry kool-aid to hot chocolate mix.
mix in food processor or blender, till you have a fine powder.

RASPBERRY MOCHA
add raspberry kool-aid and a bit of instant coffee.
mix in food processor or blender, till you have a fine powder.


I think I made these 3 years ago, and got all needed supplies at Costco.
At the time (from my notes) each bag, which held 2 cups of mix, cost me approximately $1.65, before the cost of baggies, fabric & raffia.

Good luck!